10 countries where your money will last the longest

12/07/2017 - 11:06

New survey shows how long you could stay in a country for around $700.

Travelex, the foreign-exchange giant, recently published a list of the destinations where £500(currently, $674) would last the longest. No.10: Portugal, 17 days: For several years, Portugal has earned the reputation of Western Europe’s bargain spot. And it offers a great mix of scenery, a wide variety of accommodations, museums and historical sites, an outstanding cuisine, and top-notch wines. It’s also easily accessible by low-fare airlines. Shutterstock

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9: South Africa, 18 days: Traveler attractions in this vast country range from famous wildlife to nightlife; from cosmopolitan Cape Town to deserted beaches; from desert to jungle. And you’ll find two of the world’s most famous luxury trains, the Blue Train and Rovos Rail’s Pride of Africa. Unfortunately, it’s a long, usually expensive flight away. AFP, AFP/Getty Images

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8: Turkey, 22 days: Whether it’s multicultural Istanbul, the sandy beaches of the “Turkish Riviera,” the steaming mineral water pools of Pamukkale, or Roman ruins from 200 B.C., Turkey has something for you—at good prices. The upside is that these days, Turkish Airlines is offering some good deals; the downside is maybe enough local tension and unrest to make you think twice about visiting. Getty Images

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7 and 6: Poland and Hungary, 22 days: Poland’s two primary visitor centers, Warsaw and Krakow (pictured), both offer a mix of historical architecture and “old town” centers that focus on more recent World War II and Cold War history. And, of course, there’s the kielbasa sausage. AP

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7 and 6: Poland and Hungary, 22 days: Most visitors to Hungary concentrate on historic Budapest, with its unique culture, history, scenery, and cuisine. Both are easily accessible from North America. Getty Images

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5 and 4: Czech Republic and Bulgaria, 23 days: Completing the domination of Eastern Europe in the mid-price range, the Czech Republic and Bulgaria provide much of the same mix of history, scenery, nightlife, culture, and cuisine that you get in Poland and Hungary. Prague (picture), of course, has topped many recent lists of Europe’s “hot” destinations for budget travelers. Sofia is starting to earn a similar reputation. Both are easily accessible. AP via Czech Tourism

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5 and 4: Czech Republic and Bulgaria, 23 days: Completing the domination of Eastern Europe in the mid-price range, the Czech Republic and Bulgaria provide much of the same mix of history, scenery, nightlife, culture, and cuisine that you get in Poland and Hungary. Prague, of course, has topped many recent lists of Europe’s “hot” destinations for budget travelers. Sofia (pictured) is starting to earn a similar reputation. Both are easily accessible. Jayne Clark/USA TODAY

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3: Jamaica, 25 days: You may be a bit surprised to see a Caribbean tourist center on this list, but here it is. Compared with other places on the list, Jamaica offers a much smaller smorgasbord of features and attractions, but you can’t beat the beaches and the nightlife. Again, it’s easily accessible from the U.S. Jamaica Tourist Board

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2: Mexico, 26 days: Whether you want beaches or relics of rich pre-Columbian civilizations, Mexico has it. And Mexico hosts several hotbeds of permanent expat residents. Take in the arts in Mexico City or opt for an ocean resort retreat at popular Mazatlan. Mazatlan Tourism Board

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1: Thailand, 44 days: Your money lasts almost twice as long in Thailand as it does in the runner-up locations. And, as with several other countries on this list, you have a choice of beaches, a big cosmopolitan city, or mountains, along with just about any cuisine you can mention. Although the Travelex figures don’t include accommodations, we know that even upscale hotel accommodations in Bangkok are much less expensive than comparable facilities would be in, say, Hong Kong or Singapore. Thailand is far, but, for many, well worth the effort. Tourism Authority of Thailand

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7 and 6: Poland and Hungary, 22 days: Poland’s two primary visitor centers, Warsaw and Krakow (pictured), both offer a mix of historical architecture and “old town” centers that focus on more recent World War II and Cold War history. And, of course, there’s the kielbasa sausage.(Photo: AP)

The folks at Travelex, the foreign-exchange giant, recently published a list of the destinations where £500 (currently, $674) would last the longest. Although the list targeted British travelers, the figures should work out about the same for travelers from North America.

The Travelex figures are based strictly on daily out-of-pocket tourist expenses: three restaurant meals, four soft drinks, two beers, two coffees, and two trips using public transport. Although the calculations do not include hotel accommodations costs, in general, the countries with low per-day costs usually enjoy low accommodations prices, as well. Note that the survey only covered the 32 countries visited most by UK tourists, so it doesn't include many super-cheap destinations, particularly in Africa and South America.

So where does your money dry up the quickest? You won’t be surprised to learn where $700 will last only six days: Switzerland and Norway. Browse the slideshow above to see the top ten countries for budget travel.

Save money the easy way on your next flight by following these simple hacks from travel experts. Buzz60